Measuring a Vision

The work involved in creating the Genesee Free-Net is at times overwhelming. And it is easy to feel that the work has been unnecessary or, perhaps, unwanted. Or maybe it's just that the same issues keep coming back. Or maybe it's just that the work is always there. The Genesee Free-Net is a demanding vampire, one that is willing to demand all of your blood and all of your available time.

Yes, we've fallen short, but we've also come a long ways. We need to be careful about expectations and not let them hide the success of what we have done. If we expect 1 million men for a march and then get 750,000, we might label the march a failure. But people forget that getting 750,000 to attend anything is not bad for a turnout.

So what has the Genesee Free-Net done?

• Got at least seven people a start in developing the skills they needed to run their own Internet service;
• helped at least two people use newly acquired skills to get new jobs.
• helped one man get married as a result of email.
• showed there is a market of people willing to pay for Interent access which led to several local companies.
• got some local organizations to consider using the Internet/Genesee Free-Net as a means of communicating.
• inspired three new programmers to become involved in running an Internet service
• helped two area counties learn from us in the building of their own service.
• raised more than $70,000 in one year
• inspired at least three volunteers put in 40-hour weeks, three volunteers to regularly put in 20 hours a week running the affairs of the organization

and .... I could go on but I won't. We just need to remember that it's not a shame to go slow. And it's OK for those willing to pay to go where they can get the service they want. And we just need to keep going.

September 1995
One board member to another